WCED buckles under pressure with R870m deficit amid national government's budget cuts

CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says it's doing everything possible to support schools following major budget cuts imposed by the national government.
 
The department says it's been dealt a devastating blow as the cuts have forced it to implement stringent cost containment measures.

"We are currently facing an R870 million deficit in the 2024/25 financial year that needs to be absorbed to cover the cost of the increases in the nationally negotiated public sector wage agreement," said the WCED's Bronagh Hammond.

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Hammond said the department issued a circular in November last year indicating that to maintain the number of permanent teaching posts in the system and stability in schools, various cost containment measures had to be implemented.

She adds they've consulted widely with school governing body associations, principals’ associations, teachers’ unions and schools and agreed to delay the implementation by one term, to ensure schools are ready to manage this process.

"In preparation for implementation, approximately 3,100 contract posts were converted to permanent posts, special vacancy lists were made available so that schools could ensure that appointments to fill vacant posts could be made. And the department made arrangements to expedite the administration around the filling of the posts."